Web 2.0: RIMM Co-CEO Balsillie Says Apps Are A Passing Fad (Updated)

By Eric Savitz

I’m back at the Web 2.0 Summit at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco where John Battelle of Federated Media will be interviewing Research In Motion(RIMM) Co-CEO Jim Balsillie.

Summary: The biggest takeaway here is that RIMM thinks the focus on apps on mobile devices is something of a fad. He also confirmed that the Playbook tablet will ship in Q1.

Here’s a rundown on the highlights of the event. Updated for live updates throughout the session.

Battelle starts by asking about competition with Apple(AAPL). He has said that customers are tired of getting told by Apple what to think. Balsillie says his point is that they believe you can believe mobile to the Web, but you don’t need to go through a control point or SDK. You don’t need an app for the Web. This idea that you have to go through special development tools, we don’t think that is true. He agrees with the proposition that you don’t have to have an appification of the Web.

Balsillie said their approach is not about a specialized set of tools, or appifying the Web.

Is the experience as good that way? Balsillie says they did early tests, and it is 3-4x faster to run processes on a Playbook tablet as on an iPad. He says it is about multi-core processors, it runs fast. Now, he says, run flash content. It renders. It is self-evident when shown.

On BlackBerry Messenger, he says it is one of the rare cases where they have moved forward in the app space. Using push protocols to share peer-to-peer content in a controlled group. He says it is a natural extension of the client on a device.

Are you stuck in the enterprise? “Oh my God, no” he says. Consumer business growing around the world, he says. Tremendous growth in BBM, peer-to-peer. What you are seeing, he says, is that al kinds of things are moving to the mobile services space. Stuck? No.

If you are going to do enterprise, he says, you need VPN. It matters. On BB handhelds, there’s a range of price points and functionality they serve. There are a lot of shifts going on, he says. There are a lot of moving performance. I like where we are, he says. He says in the PlayBook there is a module cavity – to add a module. There are a huge number of shifts going on. He says they sell performance, Web fidelity/Web tools. And they sell devices that meet CIO professional grade requirements.

With the Playbook and BlackBerry, he says, you get the mobility plus professional grade devices. Enterprises are looking to do things differently than they used to, he says. That sector will go through enormous growth, he says.

Battelle asks where the accreditation happens with NFC. He says the banks like to be in the credentials business. That is everything to a bank. So will they do that here? Or will the carriers? Or will a platform do that? Balsillie also says the appifying of the Web has happened, and will return to existing assets. (Like Adobe tools, or something like them.) He thinks the app period will pass quickly. Another questions is who is responsible for credentials. He says the smart person constructively aligns with the banks.

On the Playbook, Battelle asks what would define success for RIMM? He says this is a professional product. He says they feel pretty good about pent-up demand. He confirms they will ship in Q1.

Is it over for Nokia? Balsillie says he would not comment on another company. But then he says what you are seeing is that feature phones are shifting to smart phone. The core aspect of the question is how well is the company adapting to a world shifting to mobile devices.

What is the heart of RIMM? What do you stand for? What is the foundation? Two aspects, Balsillie says. One, innovative performance. Two, constructive alignment. These are strategic calls, with lots of ramifications for your devices. Leverage existing Web properties and tools. He says they can increment performance harmoniously with the alignment. Gets weird when banks and carriers both want stronger rules. The nuancing gets tricky. It does. Every day.

Coming back to the app question: he says there is a huge role for apps, but that you should be able produce them with standard Web tools.

RIMM is a sharply lower market overall is off $1.63, or 2.8%, to $56.15.

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There are 85 comments

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 2:52 P.M.

Techtrader10 wrote:

This clown is a broken record when it comes to Apple. It's obvious that he's all butthurt that Apple and Google have decimated his company's once huge lead in the smartphone sector, and he's looking for any way he can find to try to strike back. Sorry, but the PlayThing isn't gonna do it, Johnny.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:00 P.M.

meh wrote:

As much as I think RIM's phones are lame, the PlayBook is looking pretty good.

Irony alert: Apple fanboyz calling another company's product a toy.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:03 P.M.

Techtrader10 wrote:

Bank of America and Wells Fargo employees will soon be using the iPad at work. Name one toy that can say the same.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:09 P.M.

GeorgeS wrote:

"Are you stuck in the enterprise? “Oh my God, know,” he says."

"Know" should be "no."

What this guy forgets is that one must be connected to the Internet to use the web. There are lots of apps that don't require an Internet connection. Also, web "apps" tend to be slower (sometimes a LOT slower, especially on a phone connection) and more cumbersome than native apps. Imagine playing a fast first-person shooter or driving game via a web app. The latency would make it terrible.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:16 P.M.

Frank Z wrote:

WOW! Talk about denial! I will concede that 90% of apps out there are crap but the same could be same for the amount of PC software out there. But when an app is good it's good. I use alot of my apps very frequently. And anyone that thinks that the PlayBook is going to take out the iPad is nuts. A nerd company has no chance against Apple... If the iPad gets taken out, it'll be a consumer electronics company... not a PC or cell company.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:18 P.M.

RIMisKing wrote:

What a breath of fresh air to see someone not only stand up to Apple but tell the world the truth about them. Of course the Apple faithful, those that live inside of Apple's "Distortion Field," are clueless and unable to think for themselves so they will really understand what RIM's CEO is talking about. However, we have all watched as RIM completely reinvented itself and has invented the first real tablet ever made and all their technology (QNX) is considered cutting edge.

The iPad is nothing but a slow, glorified Kindle that were sold to a group of people that should have focused on the massive amount of limitations (no viewing millions of websites with Flash, no multitasking, no USB port, not video-conferencing, no printing, the list is endless) versus the fact you can read a book on it!

Keep up the good work and don't focus on Apple. The iPod will be dead soon (all phones have iPod capabilities) and the iPad and iPhone will soon go the way of Apple Computer (remember them?). Basically a bankrupt company that had to throw out its inventor/CEO (Steve Jobs) becasue he refused to give the market what it wanted - same MO with the iPad and iPhone - A/K/A "History repeating itself."

Great job RIM and please get that Playbook on sale for the Holiday season - I would like to show the link to my gal (delivering it in Jan is fine with me).

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:19 P.M.

Frank Z wrote:

The "toy" terminology is such a red herring. It's meaning-less. Man-caves are full of "toys" so it's barely an insult in the first place. Secondly, that "toy" company has sold upwards of $20 billion worth of devices and is banking $50 billion on top of that and has a market-cap higher than most "serious" companies. You can call me a "toy" or anything else you want, just make sure you call me right on time to eat your dinner!!

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:22 P.M.

meh wrote:

Oh God, don't force me to defend RIM! I think they will crash and burn as their handsets get run over by Android. BUT, the PlayBook DOES look pretty good. If you can't acknowledge that, you need to take a nice long walk and clear your head a bit. It's only tech.

For those who live inside a reality distortion field, the joke is that Apple's products used to be derided as toys. And funny thing is, Apple used to pride itself as being a nerd company. Times change. Maybe they change again.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:25 P.M.

Anonymous wrote:

"Battelle starts by asking about competition with Apple (AAPL). He has said that customers are tired of getting told by Apple what to think. "
Research In Motion (RIMM) Co-CEO Jim Balsillie BADMOUTHS APPLE AND YOU DON'T CRITICIZE HIM OR DEMONIZE HIM LIKE ALL OF YOU MEDIA GUYS DO TO STEVE JOBS.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:27 P.M.

spaceage wrote:

First: "He has said that customers are tired of getting told by Apple what to think."

Then: "Balsillie says he would not comment on another company."

Huh?

And then, the kiss of death: MBA euphemisms like "constructive alignment." Translation: game is over for this company.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:29 P.M.

Anonymous wrote:

"Is it over for Nokia? Balsillie says he would not comment on another company."
Oh really!! How about his comment on Apple and his video? What a humongous hypocrite!!!!!

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:33 P.M.

Mark, San Francisco, CA wrote:

Wow is he out of touch! Saying apps are a passing fad is basically saying software is a passing fad. The only fad that is passing here Jimmy-boy (due to lack of apps) is the Blackberry.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:34 P.M.

Proof Reader wrote:

"Are you stuck in the enterprise? 'Oh my God, know,'"

I don't think this is the proper use of the word know.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:36 P.M.

Anonymous wrote:

@RIMisKing
You are employee number what at RIMM. What a load of dump!!!

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:45 P.M.

Techtrader10 wrote:

RIMisKing is known as Capitalist4ever at Seeking Alpha. One of the biggest (and most deluded) RIM fanboys you'll ever see. Quite sad, really.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 3:56 P.M.

weekly rimm-job customer wrote:

rimm's ceo is right. apps are a passing fad. it allowed aapl to pass rimm right up. note to rimm ceo---try to create a product isn't two-for-one commodity fodder by the time it takes you to bring it to the market.

case in point, the gaybook: pretty much a slightly bigger ipod touch--a device that apple came out with 4 years ago.

i understand rimm is in the design stage of a 'new' phone they are calling the "Thriller" They plan on releasing it in a couple of years and getting by then the four year's dead michael jackson to endorse it

"Research in Motion: Cutting Edge, Cutting Staff and Research to make up for the Cutting profitability of our awkwardly soooooo1990's phones".

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:06 P.M.

meh wrote:

I need a life...

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:14 P.M.

JohninNC, Durham NC wrote:

Unless you are tied to a cellular plan and are always connected, web apps just don't work. They didn't work for the iPhone/IPod touch when it first came out (pre-App Store), why would they work now that Apple and Android markets have hundreds of thousands of static apps?

The device may sound cool, but if or when it is finally released, will it really be cool. Nobody really knows because no one outside of RIM and a few developers have touched it. And 2-3 months later it will be facing down iPad2. That seems like piss-poor timing to me.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:16 P.M.

AppsforLosers wrote:

I could not agree more. The App war is long, LONG over. And everyone won. The truth is the average person has about 15-18 apps. Those without a job or basically nothing in the world to do but play on their phone all day have no more than a hundred. So, 250,000 - 300,000 apps has turned from being a positive sales point to a "are you kidding me, who needs another "fart" app! Do the math. If you were to look though 300,000 apps (reviews, screen shots and reading the description) that would take you 3 MILLION minutes (at 10 minutes per app) - or a grand total of 50,000 (fifty thousand) hours to review them! So, if you can manage to stay up without sleeping, you can review Apple's 300,000 apps in 2,083 days or 5.7 years (but that assumes 24 hours a day) - In obvious other words - Saying that 300,000 apps (299,900 of which are crap) is of ANY benefit to anyone is simply RIDICULOUS!

RIM: Keep showing the cracks in Apple's Distortion Field! Great work.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:20 P.M.

AppsForAll wrote:

Applications are totally useless. Truly. Who uses it anymore? Playbook uses web tools that run over the web. It is blinding fast and absolutely reliable. RIMM has engineered a quantum particle process that even when there is no 3G, 4G or 10G signals and no WiFi, RIMM web tools will continue to work from my device to the server farm in RIMM's data center.

RIMM also has perfected a special OS so that your device does not need any OS. The OS runs in the RIMM server in Canada. Your device just works over the web without an operating system running in it.

Is that not cool? I predict RIMM rising up to $1000/share by March after Playbook, a revolutionary device never before seen, sells 1 billion units in one quarter. Even Martians will be landing to get a look at this wunderlust device.

RIMM uber alles!

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:23 P.M.

Techtrader10 wrote:

AppsforLosers = RIMisKing

Time to get a life, loser.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:24 P.M.

Tim wrote:

For all u geniuses who think Balsillie's a hypocrite for slamming Apple yet when it comes to Nokia he says he doesn't talk about other companies; let me remind you Apple is a special case. Why is Apple fair game? Because your highness Steve Jobs, broke the wall when he repeatedly called out other companies to defend his products. (first with the antennae issue, then with the tablet issue). Other CEO's respect their competition at least publicly; since Jobs doesn't Apple alone is a legit target.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:24 P.M.

Techtrader10 wrote:

AppsforLosers = RIMisKing

Time to get a life, you sad little man.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:29 P.M.

GeorgeS wrote:

@RIMIsKing:

"Basically a bankrupt company that had to throw out its inventor/CEO (Steve Jobs) becasue he refused to give the market what it wanted - same MO with the iPad and iPhone - A/K/A “History repeating itself.”"

Your "history" is backasswards. When Jobs was tossed out, Apple was a thriving company, with a goodly share of the PC market. It went downhill from there. When Jobs was brought BACK, the company was in dire straits, though it still had a good amount of cash Jobs had built up from the Apple II and Mac. Jobs led Apple from almost-dead to being the most valuable tech company--and the second-most valuable company of ANY type--in the world. AAPL went from about $4.50/share when Jobs came back to over $300/share--a 6500% increase. Apple's revenue and earnings consistently INCREASED during the recession. In the last year, RIM's CEO has rewarded investors with a nearly 6% LOSS in value, after a series of good years. AAPL investors, on the other hand, have seen a 48% increase.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:30 P.M.

David wrote:

This article is so poorly edited that it is almost incomprehensible: you can't readily tell whether it is Battelle or Balsillie is talking, and most of it is incomplete sentences. From what I think I understand, it appears that Balsillie is totally out of touch. Apps will surely not be a passing fad - or, if they are, there is a long time yet to come before they hit their peak. Flash on the other hand is legitimately passing on: when it does, HTML5 will take its place, and Balsillie can have all the web-enable crap he wants. If he doesn't have the vision to see and say that, he shouldn't be a tech CEO.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:30 P.M.

Tim wrote:

As for the numerous misspellings and run-on sentences in this article, thats all on Savitz. What does he do, put out whatever dribble he can in 2 minutes without a proofread through? Also, seems some RIM haters out there talk like its Ballsillie who doesn't know the difference between "no" and "know".

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:32 P.M.

realitybytes wrote:

Balsillie's an idiot if he believes anything he's saying.
RIM's Playbook is a fail before it's even produced, let's examine why...
No infrastructure in place to buy content with paying pre-existing users converted from other similar devices they are already familiar with.
No apps.
No content.
No users.
No cool factor, no wow, no sizzle, nothing sexy going on here.
No sale.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:33 P.M.

Hello_Tim wrote:

Tim,
Actually, RIMM called out Apple first long ago when iPhone first shipped and as recently as two quarters ago when comparing RIMM sales to iPhone sales.

DOes it really matter? Competition is great, no?

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 4:40 P.M.

RIMisFail wrote:

RIMisKing is a bigger idiot than Ballsillie will ever be because he actually believes Ballsillie.

"Great job RIM and please get that Playbook on sale for the Holiday season - I would like to show the link to my gal (delivering it in Jan is fine with me)."

Hopefully she can read and see what an "genius" you are

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 5:04 P.M.

Tim wrote:

@hello_Tim

I do think competition is great, which is why I'm perplexed Apple fanboys continually slag RIM. Whats best for consumers is if both are successfully competing. Its true RIM has compared sales to Apple in the past; but openly denigrating a competitor started with Jobs, which is why I maintain Apple is ok to go after for Ballsillie and why he takes the high road with Nokia.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 5:09 P.M.

Anonymous wrote:

@RIMisKing

That was really enjoyable - “Distortion Field,” - I'm still smiling. Was it Dell that just said they're dumping 50,000+ BlackBerrys for Windows 7 phones? Maybe you should tell them to hold out for Playbook? It would appear they did not warm up to the Torch...

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 5:09 P.M.

Don wrote:

Re: "Are you stuck in the enterprise? 'Oh my God, know,' he says"

That should read: "Are you stuck in the enterprise? 'Oh my God, [I] know,' he says." In other words, Balsillie is acknowledging that RIM has a serious problem.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 5:17 P.M.

Anonymous wrote:

I heard today, the number one killer on the road is no longer drunk driving. It's texting.

Apps a passing Fad? Today I will be polite, so no expletives.
How come Rim has 10,000 Apps to Apple's 300,000? Simple rhetorical question.
Seems like that epitomizes Rim's inability to innovatively perform or constructively realign themselves. The Storm proved that too because that's where there was an obvious door. And totally lost financial opportunity.

A mobile app is software, web or not. Lazaridis still hasn't coaxed anyone into making any "Super Apps". Why's that? W/O the web most of the Blackberry's apps are no better than a PDF. Maybe it's the developers who don't like being told by Rim what to think or do? Perhaps the platform stinks? Anything going to change that?

Should anyone besides Rim start employing a RTOS. Where would that leave Rim? It's going to happen too. The idea is not original to Rim, at all. Ask the RTOS Boys. They're on the sidelines, mumbling.

"People are tired of being told by Apple what to think." Dude. Apple has enabled a lot of ordinary people to make a lot of money in a lot of different ways. Rim hasn't. Rim doesn't think about the needs of individuals that way. Mostly I see Rim using other people's jargon from the backlash and onslaught.

FYI : The SDK has raised the bar for people's hopes and dreams. The SDK has become a new form of literacy, that being software, and consciousness. You James are more interested in yourself and hockey. Hockey as a distraction destroyed Rim. That's when it really kicked in. Ultimately, as far as ecosystems go. Rim is not your friend. Rim is about Rim. Or else the carrier makes money. We don't like that. So the App will not be a fad. It's a symbol representing the spirit of our time. It's a new paradigm that our civilization has taken to. You'll see. Ask Mary Meeker to explain it to you. Hopefully she won't talk too fast for you.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 5:30 P.M.

RIMisKing wrote:

Techtrade10 has owned Apple since it was $320 a month ago and is seriously upset with its performance - not to mention he was kicked off S/A something like 5 times for abusive and/or illogical comments. So, consider the source.

And, for all you that want to bash RIM just becasue you are an Apple sheep following your lost shepherd whereever he takes you and tells you what you want (can't think for yourself), I am sorry if all the truth about Apple's Distortion Field hurts.

Ballsille didn't start any of this. Jobs did when he spewed his mindless drivel about how RIM did not have good reception on the Blackberry when his worthless iPhone antenna issue (relative to reception/dropped calls/communication/antenna) hit the press.

Then, he did it again in his now infamous fear-filled ranting against RIM on the earnings call about how RIM's tablet would be DOA. Which is turning out to be a complete lie. EVERYONE wants the Playbook - even hard core Apple fans!

Fact is: The shield that has protected Apple's Distortion Field is cracking people - look out below!

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 5:33 P.M.

Dave in Boulder wrote:

A fad? Now I'm certain I will short the RIMM stock. I should have done it when it was above 70! Anyhow, apps are short for applications which run everything - including the OS on the Blackberry. I can tell you two reasons why this company will die a fairly quick death next year:

1) They have co-CEOs: A recipe for disaster immediately. I can't believe the board would let this happen or be copacetic with this structure.

2) Hubris: Throw in the blind hubris of two mutually exclusive human beings at the CEO level and contrast that with the hubris of a dictator (Steve Jobs). Jobs gets things done - and well. RIMM has been spinning their wheels on a legacy technology and are unable to admit to themselves they have a serious problem with innovation.

I'll point to the Torch. You haven't heard of it? Exactly.

Dave in Boulder

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 6:06 P.M.

RIMisKing wrote:

Let's see, decisions, decisions, decisions:

1) A perfectly sized (truly) portable and seamless device with a single, world renowned and leading OS (QNX) that multitasks and has no limitations so I can enjoy the web as it was meant to be experienced, or

2) 300,000 apps (299,900 of which are crap) and still no ability to view any of the millions of instructional, introduction or educational Flash videos on millions of websites that are Flash based (for product intro/info)- and with no video conference capability!

Ah, gee, let me think about it..............okay, I will do #1

Please. Comparing the iPad to the Playbook is like comparing a mule (iPad) to a Ferrari Enzo (Playbook).

Oh, and for the absolutely absurd comment about how "Dell ditched 25,000 Blackberry's" as if that has any relevance whatsoever on RIM???? Are you kidding? So I guess if you were a Ford shareholder you would be okay with the CEO (of Ford) driving a Mercedes??? And......note the backlash of employees - many of which are keeping their BB's (personal use). Please, take off your distorted Apple goggles and join the intelligent crowd!

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 6:19 P.M.

iPadvsPlaybook wrote:

WOW, say what you will but this Playbook is KILLING Apple's iPad reputation. I actually want one and I have an iPhone.

While the video after the break is too short to give a detailed look at the tablet, here’s what Engadget did find out: It handles multitasking in a way that makes Apple, Google, HP/Palm and Microsoft mobile operating systems look sluggish and outdated.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 6:21 P.M.

StrangeArgument wrote:

Comparing PlayBook to first generation iPad is laughable.

It is like comparing a 16 Mhz x86 INTEL CPU to a 12 Mhz CPU and claims world domination! LOL.

In six months, Apple with have a new version of iPad, so will Samsung deliver a new Galaxy Tab and even more Android Tablets will arrive in-market.

Only a total neophyte would put so much stock in what is "good" today in the very competitive high tech market. Pure silliness.

Yes RIMM is great, RIMM is perfect is king and RIMM can do no wrong and here is the pacifier, now go outside to play! LOL.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 6:24 P.M.

GeorgeS wrote:

RIMisKing still blathers on, but his/her/its original comment still needs rebuttal. He said:

"(no viewing millions of websites with Flash, no multitasking, no USB port, not video-conferencing, no printing, the list is endless)"

Printing is coming, as is multitasking with iOS 4.2. Video conferencing may be coming next year, about the time the PlayBook comes out. What do you need an USB port for? Apple sells a little device that plugs into the iPod connector on the iPad. It can read SD cards or, if you switch the outboard end, it has a--wait for it---USB PORT!!! Apparently, RIMisKing is either not up to date or likes to lie.

Also, he made a statement about Apple not giving the market what it wants. Well, last quarter, Apple sold more iPhones than RIM sold Blackberries--of all models. (WHO isn't giving the market what it wants?) More enterprises are allowing iPhones and many are buying or testing iPads. Apple is now the 4th-largest manufacturer of cellphones--of ALL types, after Nokia, Samsung, and LG (who lost money on cellphone sales recently). Apple is also the largest seller of music--in total, not just online sales. Mac sales are climbing faster than PC sales, in general. If one adds the iPad to Mac sales, it puts Apple at something like 10% market share. (And, again, a much higher share of profits.) The iPod still commands something around 70% of the MP3 player market, which, of course, is declining because of the smartphones. (Sales of the iPod touch, on its own, are reportedly increasing.)

We'll have to see what the holiday quarter brings.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 6:26 P.M.

ONX wrote:

TOuting ONX is another sure sign of a non-technical neophyte.

ONX is just an operating system. It is not something special. Amateurs think that oh, ONX runs nuclear power plant so it must be great! Ha ha! UNIX runs massive corporations too, so it must be great? LOL.

The reason RIMM uses ONX is because RIMM knows a LARGE OS cannot fit easily into running a small device. Instead of expending effort to build its own new OS to replace the aging RIMM OS, it uses ONX because ONX is built in smaller parts so it can be shoe-horn into small devices a lot faster and easier.

Once ONX's parts are stuffed into a small device, it is no different than any other OS. All other OS muli-task, everything from Nokia to iOS to Android to MeeGo. Anyone who knows anything abotu Mobile OS knows that. The only difference is whether the OS allows apps to run in parallel.

ONX is not a big deal in the technical world and professionals know it as such.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 6:30 P.M.

RenownMyFoot wrote:

QNX is "world renown"? Leading?

Last I looked, all flavors of UNIX still owns the corporate space. Google uses LINUX, so does Pixar, airlines, banks, on and on. Windows owns the desktop space. Mac OS is heavily used in educational and research institutions.

QNX? Huh? It runs in cars and industrial controls and how does that make it a world renown and leading? THis is a joke, right?

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 6:46 P.M.

Anonymous wrote:

I read on another site, a Rim fan rationalizing that once you eliminated the Fart Apps and Games from Apple's App Store, ultimately Apple's 300,000 Apps are the equivalent to Rim's 10,000. C'mon guys. Get real.

There are thousands of brilliant apps for iOS and Android, and Rim is lagging so far behind it's not even funny. C'mon this is why people hate Rim. They're constantly insulting people's intelligence. Sure Rim can counter spin it. But show me the money!

The iPad was designed in 2009. The PlayBook is only demoware and nobody has had a free go at it, and it won't be available till 2011. The only person who'd want a PlayBook is a Perv. The PlayBook is great if all you're interested in is online Porn.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 7:34 P.M.

PoorAppleShareholders wrote:

Just TWO (2) simple Playbook video's (under 5 minutes in combined length) and the annihilation of the iPad by the entire tech world (and everyone) is mounting.........fast!

Here is the video that every tech guy in the country is writing about - SLAMMING the iPad (oh, BTW its in flash, so you can't watch this on an iPad.......LOL)!

LOL! I love it. Did you read this: "It (Playbook) handles multitasking in a way that makes Apple, Google, HP/Palm and Microsoft mobile operating systems look sluggish and outdated."

LOL@the iPad - A glorified Kindle with the speed of a mule amongst Ferrari's!

Oh, and I love all the "Oh, yeah, well the iPad 2 will have a lot more stuff! LOL What do you say to the poor saps that bought the iPad 1??? Good luck getting their trust back after shelling out $700 for what the tech world is calling: sluggish and outdated," " I wonder if Steve Jobs has seen how fast it loads web pages with Flash content on them, even faster than the iPad can render what there is left on the page," ""iPad Shows Age," "faster than the iPad can render what there is left on the page."

LOLOL

Looks like the shield that has protected Apples Distortion Field is crumbling..............fast!!

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 8:14 P.M.

Just2cents wrote:

Balsillie has no choice but to say and hope that apps are a fad, because the Playbook will have very few apps when it is finally released. When it comes to apps, it is true you cannot possibly look at 300,000 apps, but the more the better because it simply a statistical probability. The more competition you have the better the quality of the top rated products. If you only have a few apps then top apps will have large gaps in quality.

I think the Playbook looks good but it is a real mistake to be showing so much about a device before it ever releases, especially when it is months away. This give all of his competitors time to position and flood the market with their products (Andriod, WebOS, etc) in time to disrupt the Playbooks release. I have a feeling that Balsillie is so focused on Apple that he will let Android and WinMobile7 in the back door to eat their lunch.

It is really funny to see how upset people get with Apple. If you think about it, it is really amazing how technology company is able to create the same type of emotional attachment and status around a gadget as auto companies like Audi creates around its cars. Most electronic companies would kill to have the same marketing prowess as Apple. Who really cares if Steve Jobs is a nice guy or if he is really opinionated, share holders just care if he continues to make good products, that are highly profitable, and that the masses will buy. Apple customers just care if they continue to make good products that makes their lives easier.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 9:06 P.M.

James wrote:

iPad controls 95%+ of the tablet it created. As newer iPads are released, the adopters for iPad will skyrocket.

Due to iPad deployments, the number of Mac Servers servicing iPad apps will also skyrocket, this is where Apple will make the most profits.

Apple will provide global networking services by 2013. This Apple global network will provide the backbone for network services far surpassing any available carrier networks.

New generations of systems, applications, and data products will proliferate the world using the Apple platform replacing the ancient legacy systems. This could be a multi-trillion dollar industry that will lift America and its partners out of the global recessions. Years of prosperity will ensue.

Rim the company should cease to exist no later than year 2015.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 9:22 P.M.

Anonymous wrote:

People go apes over Apple, and Balsillie is oh so jealous.

If Balsillie want people to pay attention to him, he should really do a strip show on YouTube going totally naked holding nothing more than a bogus 7" Blackpad......eh......Plaything that covers his genitals. That would certainly beat all the verbal garbages he's spouted all over the web.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 10:22 P.M.

Matt from Toronto wrote:

What a bunch of Sally's writing comments here. Get a life guys.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 10:31 P.M.

@Tim wrote:

Jim Balsillie and other Apple competitors and the media "Robin Hoods" have been been dissing and telling LIES about Apple and its products for a looooooong time. Steve Jobs made a TRUE, REAL, NO LIE comparison of the products. You and other f---'n idiots can't stand the truth and make up lies to justify your unreasonable positions. i.e. "I can hit you, but you can't defend yourself". Steve Jobs defended reality against your bully ilk.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 11:26 P.M.

Rose Dale wrote:

I think JB did okay. The way I would put it though : Among U of T Alumni and room mates... You have two extremely talented gentlemen like James Balsillie and Malcolm Gladwell bunking. And on the other side, two morons like the pandering socialist Michael Ignatieff and that effing bumbling commie clown Bob Rae. Gawd spare us our souls from the genetically criminal Liberal party of Canada.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 11:41 P.M.

Hotoil86 wrote:

It appears I missed all the fun in here today. I just watched the Playbook to ipad comparison video at Crackberry.com and I must say the Playbook destroys the ipad in performance. Web site rendering speed was awsome. This 7" Playbook is superior for mobility and as evident in the video, offers a superior experience at browsing the internet.

NOVEMBER 16, 2010 11:50 P.M.

rocky wrote:

Rimm has not mentioned anything about battery life, there is no way that small playbook running on duo core processors plus running energy sucking flash is going to last more than 2 hours, plus they are going into a new product line there is going to to be plenty of gliches, I would not even consider one until the secound gen ..And yes keep a power source handy!

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 12:04 A.M.

@Hotoil86 wrote:

I wouldn't get too carried away. Just let it rest. 3 appearances and each time we see just a bit. People like you raise the tone of belief and expectations and the market relishes punishing on disappointment. In many ways, Rim does not deliver well.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 12:25 A.M.

battery life...first exclusive hands-on.... wrote:

if these guys can be trusted, a full day's use, fairly heavy, with the thing just over 50% charged....that is seriously impressive battery life...

I am puzzled how clearly insignificant people are calling one of the founders of a multibillion dollar empire a stupid individual. Others call him arrogant but do not have the same apelative for Steve who is the epitome of arrogance.
Let's face it instead of an on/off flash solution we are told we do not need one. And Apple is "right" as soon as Skyfire was for sale was purchased 'till it crashed their servers and was put on hold. I guess not all the downloaders where porn lovers as some where suggesting in the comments ...
The reason has probably more to do with the delivery of content that cannot be controlled by Apple that with the battery life. So the "told what to do" has some seed of truth.
But I have to admit a once big BB fan I am using an IPhone 4 now (the first phone from Apple) and also keep an eye in the Android backyard. It is more the convenience and the loss of corporate email need that pushed me here. An early adopter of the ITouch it allowed me to leave both the BB and the touch home and keep one toy for the road while keeping the apps.
Regarding the apps Jim is wrong while the majority of the 300000 are crap many are pure gold. The sour grapes comment is visible here and RIM has some big catching to do. But so do Apple. Their device security is a joke compared with RIM's. You don't trust me read about the emergency call "work around" OS 4.1 as the last of their string of security problems. I can see a lot of banks and government officials loving the iPhone for this :-)
Mr Jobs was defensive to recently so they are all worried by the competition while acting cool.
In the end let's be kind and consider competition works in our advantage. With no competition we would still have the iPhone 2 sold with 700$ and the BB would still be a brick.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 12:35 A.M.

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not impressed. Not by him or what he's said nor their products. Sorry.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 12:52 A.M.

Steve Jobs Is A God wrote:

lol blackberrys arent even used for business nearly as much as they used to be now teenagers jus use them for bbm, business executives are turning away from rims silly bbm teenage market and beginning to use the God=iPhone for those that dont know and even android phones because they offer EXTREMELY IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS which blackberry doesnt have, in order to do enterprise and business with.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 2:26 A.M.

Rick A. Shay wrote:

I tried the Playbook and it's super slow and the graphics are subpar. It's going to be "torched." Rimm is really desparate with the "Obama-like comments - lots of hot air.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 4:59 A.M.

Henry 3 Dogg wrote:

Balsillie says apps are a passing fad i.e. customers will stop thinking that they are a good idea.

Balsillie says customers should prefer the web to apps.

Basillie says that customers are tired of getting told by Apple what to think.

Balsillie says he would not comment on another company.

I an tired of Badillie treating me like an idiot. You can decide for yourself.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 5:27 A.M.

Henry 3 Dogg wrote:

@Tim and others

"... Because your highness Steve Jobs, broke the wall when he repeatedly called out other companies to defend his products. (first with the antennae issue, then with the tablet issue). Other CEO’s respect their competition at least publicly; since Jobs doesn’t Apple alone is a legit target"

and other worded versions of the same thing.

You forget that this was itself a response to most of the rest of the industry attacking Apple about iPhone 4 reception. These were hyped up attacks trying to create or blow up a big problem from was has turned out to be a damp squib. Whatever your position on the reception [non]issue, it it is pretty clear that the rest od the industry was straight in there to use it to attack Apple. Some were even doing it in there advertisements.

It's like Adobes complaint that Apple publicly criticised their software. But not mentioning that this was only after Adobe publicly criticised Apple for not accepting their software.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 8:06 A.M.

Jdubya wrote:

So I I had a look at the RIM produced, iPad vs Playbook video. Was impressive. Especially the couple of points where the playbook 'reacted' to inputs BEFORE the actor touch the screen. Wow! Even a couple of the gestures used on the iPad where wrong, yet still accomplished the actors goal. Something around The RIM smells fishy.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 8:59 A.M.

TruthAboutAppleHurts wrote:

Well guys, the truth really is, people in these "chat" groups are typically morons and Apple followers. Note the "technical expert" talking about RIM's OS "ONX" (I think that says it all about him - it's QNX genious.

I read all the comments and reviewed the links that Poorappleshareholders put up and those experts are spot on. they only point out the facts. If you follow the links and listen to what everyone in the tech world is saying you will soon discover that without any doubt whatsoever the ipad is really (when it is all said and done) nothing to write home about.

the ipad is clearly slow, antiquated and clearly doesn't even deserve to compete with the playbook as the playbook blew it away in all the tests that all the tech industry gurus are using.

believe me, if the ipad was rims product and the playbook came out by apple the apple followers would be all over these rooms blasting rim's ipad all day long as old, antiquated piece of crap (which the ipad has been proven to be).

it is a shame that so many saps bought the ipad one. poor people will soon feel like complete idiots when apple introduces the ipad 2 which will attempt to compete with the playbook, but from what i am hearing even it will be far less superior than the playbook. if RIM announces an all touch phone based on QNX and an alternative 10-inch tablet, you will see apples stock drop in half. there will be no possible way for them to compete especially with google on their tail and eating iphone's lunch, note that apple's iphone growth in the last quarter relative to marketshare was flat.

by the way, go to a verizon store and ask about the iphone. I think their answer is why you have never see it there. In fact, i believe the iphone would get cremated and be considered a major embarrassment if it went on sale at verizon. Do this: Go in or call a verizon store and talk to a sales reps. I did. here is what four of them told me (words to this effect): " I don't know if we will get it (iphone) or not, but it doesn't matter anymore because all the droid phones that we can offer you from $0.00 (free) to $99 are far cooler and do far more than the iphone will ever do and all the blackberrys are starting to sell better with their recent os upgrade." I asked 4 sales reps and they all said the same thing. Now, imagine if the iphone goes to verizon. Here is your choice: iphone for $199 or a free droid or the top of the line droid for $99 which is (their words) far superior. Can you say "oh crap?" Now with the playbook slaughtering the ipad all over the press yesterday and today, i don't know guys perhaps this is why apples stock cant get past $325? I wouldn't touch the stock with a 100 foot pole.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 9:02 A.M.

TruthAboutAppleHurts wrote:

Well guys, the truth really is, people in theses "chat" groups are typically morons and Apple followers. Note the "technical expert" talking about RIM's OS "ONX" (I think that says it all about him - it's QNX genious.

I read all the comments and reviewed the links that Poorappleshareholders put up and those experts are spot on. they only point out the facts. If you follow the links and listen to what everyone in the tech world is saying you will soon discover that without any doubt whatsoever the ipad is really (when it is all said and done) nothing to write home about.

the ipad is clearly slow, antiquated and clearly doesn't even deserve to compete with the playbook as the playbook blew it away in all the tests that all the tech industry gurus are using.

believe me, if the ipad was rims product and the playbook came out by apple the apple followers would be all over these rooms blasting rim's ipad all day long as old, antiquated piece of crap (which the ipad has been proven to be).

it is a shame that so many saps bought the ipad one. poor people will soon feel like complete idiots when apple introduces the ipad 2 which will attempt to compete with the playbook, but from what i am hearing even it will be far less superior than the playbook. if RIM announces an all touch phone based on QNX and an alternative 10-inch tablet, you will see apples stock drop in half. there will be no possible way for them to compete especially with google on their tail and eating iphone's lunch, note that apple's iphone growth in the last quarter relative to marketshare was flat.

by the way, go to a verizon store and ask about the iphone. I think their answer is why you have never see it there. In fact, i believe the iphone would get cremated and be considered a major embarrassment if it went on sale at verizon. Do this: Go in or call a verizon store and talk to a sales reps. I did. here is what four of them told me (words to this effect): " I don't know if we will get it (iphone) or not, but it doesn't matter anymore because all the droid phones that we can offer you from $0.00 (free) to $99 are far cooler and do far more than the iphone will ever do and all the blackberrys are starting to sell better with their recent os upgrade." I asked 4 sales reps and they all said the same thing. Now, imagine if the iphone goes to verizon. Here is your choice: iphone for $199 or a free droid or the top of the line droid for $99 which is (their words) far superior. Can you say "oh crap?" Now with the playbook slaughtering the ipad all over the press yesterday and today, i don't know guys perhaps this is why apples stock cant get past $325? I wouldn't touch the stock with a 100 foot pole.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 9:06 A.M.

Chris wrote:

you are a bad reporter... this is an opinion piece augmented by some facts... fact... he said web apps... opinion, you don't like rimm so you skew your title to say "apps"... fact... you shouldn't need apps for this... youtube for example shouldn't require an app from apple to run it... it should just work... like a website.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 9:28 A.M.

@TruthAboutAppleHurts-blah blah blah wrote:

FYI It's spelled genius. Not genious. There you go. It took you two sentences and you shot yourself in the foot. Are you also Canadian? Then here's something for you to think about : Blah blah blah. Or more effectively, BLAH BLAH BLAH. Have a nice day.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 9:34 A.M.

TruthAboutRIMM wrote:

RIMM has had a string of failures against iPhone since 2007. Ouch!
RIMM is just now creating a tablet to respond to Apple's iPad. Ouch!

Android growth year over year is an astronomical 250% by end of 3Q 2010.
iPhone growth year over year is 90+% by end of 3Q 2010.
RIMM growth year over year is a paltry 39% by end of 3Q 2010. Ouch!

RIMM has been in denial since iPhone first announced.

Feb. 2007: Basille said:
"The recent launch of Apple's iPhone does not pose a threat to Research In Motion Ltd.'s consumer-geared BlackBerry Pearl and simply marks the entry of yet another competitor into the smartphone market, RIM's co-chief executive said in an interview," Wojtek Dabrowski reports for Reuters.

Jul. 2007, Basille said:
The iPhone is launching, to the best of my knowledge in one carrier and one country and we're in about a 100 countries and 300 carriers, so to the extent there is interest there. There is another 109 countries that are interested in these kinds of things.

RIMM has had to aggressively offer BUY-ONE-GET-ONE-FREE programs just to squeeze out a paltry 39% gain in shipment.

RIMM is losing a long string of battles since 2007 to iOS and then Android. Touting Playbook as the "giant slayer" now is like betting the outcome of a war on a single skirmish. Too late. The enemies have RIMM on three sides.

Competition is good, RIMM will survive yet but this silly Playbook publicity stunt is ineffective.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 9:52 A.M.

CanadiansAreFriends wrote:

Americans should know that the Canadians made the arm in the Space Shuttle cargo bay. It is also Canadians who offered us the C language. Canadians have been contributing to the US economy for a long time. There are Canadian engineers working for Apple, so let us leave nationality out of this.

As for TruthAboutApple, the arguments are superficial and naive. Believing what a salesman says about his company's product is extremely naive and childish. Would a Wal-Mart sales associate ever bad-mouth Wal-Mart on Wal-Mart property?

Playbook is just another entrant into the rapidly crowding tablet market pioneered by the iPad. Before iPad, there were many pitiful attempts with no success by many companies. RIMM never even tried until now.

The Playbook UI is basically a "copy" of Apple's UI. From the virtual keyboard to gestures. The highest form of flattery is when a competitor starts copying your methods. RIMM stubbornly stayed with physical keyboard and had learned a hard painful lesson.

I am sure Playbook will sell well into the RIMM fan base but it will be competing against iPad and Galaxy Tab and H-P's Slate and many more to come in 2011. Good luck!

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 9:57 A.M.

Anonymous wrote:

If you punks from Rim want something else to think about, consider this : Apple announced today, its new board member, with the addition of Ronal D. Sugar PhD. former CEO and Chairman of Northrop Grumman. Not sure of that? Wiki it. What's on the bottom of his shoe is more impressive then what's inside the best minds at Rim. Or all of ... for that matter.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 11:24 A.M.

@TruthAboutAppleHurts wrote:

You are TRULY delusional. The PlayBook isn't even IN PLAY. That was a RIMM lab distorted promotional for a vaporware nonproduct that will most probably NEVER make it to mass production or even to market.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 11:44 A.M.

DumbPhone lover wrote:

So according to mr Jobs smaller screen bigger resolution for the pad is a big No No and you will need to "trim" your fingers, but on a phone a 3.5" "retina display" (reminds me of Oakley "unobtanium" rubber ... another cool company) compared to over 4" Amoled from the Android camp is preferred and it does not require finger size adjustment... I wonder how this works?! Oh it is another sour grapes comment.
There is enough place under the sun for all screen sizes same as it is for Prius an pickup trucks and SUV (specially in the land of the Apple) and everything in between.
Let's have them fight in features and price and we reap the benefits. Let also try to keep our judgment clear (I know it is difficult when you are a fan boy specially an Apple one).

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 12:08 P.M.

Argh, try the Haggis baggis ... wrote:

Until the PlayBook hits the Streets as a reality my only advice to those thinking its already a miracle is to stay with the program : Fiber fiber fiber. And lots of exercise. You have lots of room in Canada for walking around. Use it.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 4:11 P.M.

RIMMTooLate wrote:

Galaxy Tab is out, H-P Slate just sold 90% over estimate, iPad is flying off the shelves in massive volume. More Android tables on the way and iPad 2 is due out by April or June next year. RIMM finds itself stunned, dumbfounded, caught with pants down and totally unable to respond in any meaningful manner.

So RIMM created the YouTube piece as a desperate last ditch effort to slow down the tsunami of change crushing against its long-in-the-tooth berries and non-existent playbook. Instead of producing anything meaningful, all it can offer is FLASH and "full web" experience; too little, too late and too insignificant.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 4:20 P.M.

I win I win! wrote:

I don't suppose its occurred to anyone yet. Apple has hidden away in its Skunk Works the bestest tablet yet. After a few more moments. Let the possibility of the set in. Okay. Now whatever the arguments were about. Does it still matter? No. So there you go.

"the ipad is clearly slow, antiquated and clearly doesn’t even deserve to compete with the playbook as the playbook blew it away in all the tests that all the tech industry gurus are using."

The iPad is actually on the market and has been for seven months. Apple has sold millions of them worldwide. The Playbook is not even in production, yet the iPad "clearly doesn't even deserve to compete"? Maybe BlackBerry should actually enter the arena before they declare themselves the winner and new champion.

Compared to the iPhone 4, the iPad is somewhat antiquated. iOS 4.2 closes the gap quite a bit - I know, I'm running the 4.2 GM seed version now. Most of BlackBerry's iPad talking points are moot as of next week - next week, when BlackBerry still won't have a tablet on the market.

Apple's space is the consumer market. Google is the company that will be kicking RIM out of the enterprise space.

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 4:37 P.M.

TruthAboutAppleHurts wrote:

HOT OFF THE PRESSES - THIS JUST IN!!

RIM's Blackberry passes Apple's iPhone in Latin America to become the top selling phone in all surrounding countries.

He (RIM CEO) also said that he expects RIM's global market share in mobile operating systems to surpass Apple in the coming quarters. We just finished our third quarter now...we will be pass them (Apple) and we will stay past them," he said.

What happened to Apple's stock today? The stock was in the $200's again????? Why???? How is that possible? Isn't there like a 40 "BUY" recommendations with targets from 500/share to $1000/share? What is going on????? I don't get it.

BTW - The misspelling of "genius" was a shot at the unbelievable fool that spewed his mindless drivel on the "ONX" OS - that doesn't even exist (outside Apple's Distortion Field that is)!! The "genious" that talked all about a OS that he doesn't even know the name of!! LOL@applesheep! Amazing.

The shield that has protected Apple's Distortion Field is crumbling

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 6:41 P.M.

Hotoil86 wrote:

@PoorAppleShareholder
Those video links you provided sure contains the damning evidence of :
1. how obsolete the ipad is, particuarily when browsing the internet.
2. The brillance of the Rimm's management team to aquire (QNX)

I have 2 college friends who are cult members. They couldn't wait to get the ipad and now after just a few months you can sense their regret at making that purchase. It is examples like this that makes me feel terrible for ipad customers who just ran out and purchased these tablets. They all paid a premium because it is an apple product. Sad really. The positive side to this storey is that us berry users can show them how good things come to those who wait.

NOVEMBER 18, 2010 6:37 A.M.

Anonymous wrote:

Are you sure anybody really cares, but you guys? We don't. Not really. Not impressed at all. Are you wearing a diaper? Rim can theoretically present any numbers they want because the Q after this one the metrics will be gone. We already know you guys have trouble using an alphabet with more than 18 letters. Therefore it's obvious the numbers have to go too. Otherwise, like many OEMs, Rim would have just written their own RTOS. If Apple ever employs a RTOS you might not even know it. Might want to check out Apple's new board member Ronald Sugar PhD from Northrop Grumman. Heavy duty smart. Makes you guys look like mickey mouse.

NOVEMBER 18, 2010 6:46 A.M.

James B. wrote:

Hi I'm a goof. And this is my new PlayBook : TRICK OR TREAT !?

NOVEMBER 18, 2010 11:02 A.M.

TruthAboutApple&RIM wrote:

Latest trades: (less than one minute)
RIMM $57.43
AAPL $308.47

Market cap:
RIMM $29.33 billion
APPL $275.75 billion

Recent returns (YTD):
RIMM -17.2%
APPL +42.6%

Just the facts...

NOVEMBER 18, 2010 11:19 A.M.

TruthAboutAppleHurts wrote:

This is how I explained to a guy that was deciding which tablet to buy:

Richard,

It really depends on what you want: - However, please note comparing the iPad to a Playbook is like comparing a old mule to a Enzo Ferrari (so the two shouldn't even be in the same game - Playbook is far, far superior).

1) A turtle/mule with an unlimited about of restrictions (the iPad); or,

2) A truly portable device with the latest and greatest cutting edge technologically that will multitask (huge importance) and allow you to view any ONE of the millions of Flash videos that are on the millions of websites that use Flash for their introduction, education or informational videos, do video-conference with your family, friends and co-workers, take fast pictures and upload/send them (the list is endless), and you want blazing speed while doing all the above, then you want the Playbook. ONLY the Playbook will give you the ability to experience the Internet as it was meant to be enjoyed/experienced - with complete security - and unmatched or unrivaled speed (300% to 400% faster than the iPad) - pure and simple.

However, if you just want to read a book and never go to the Internet, then the iPad will do. But, kill the screen brightness or your eyes will feel like they are bleeding in 1 hour.

I think BlackBerry lacks in the number of applications and not in their quality, i have seen many quality apps, they don't have all the bells and whistles of the iPhone but the nice thing about these apps is their integration within the phone capabilities. You can create apps that are integrated with the standard phone book application, you can control all the events of the phone like what to be displayed on the screen when you receive a phone call, so you can really make a nice application that runs in the background that brings new features and amazing capabilities to the standard blackberry apps and tools shipped on your phone.

From a market perspective, looking in the Middle East market (where i leave), you will find that the numbers of blackberry devices in the market super pass the number of iPhone devices. With the introduction of the Curve 8520 the budget smart phone it became now one of the most popular phones in the middle east also the bold is making huge sales as well.... It has also been estimated that the mobile internet usage in the middle east comes primary from blackberry devices: BB 8520 (18%) handset. The iPhone came in second with 10%, but BlackBerry took the third and fourth rankings again with their 8900 (8%) and 9000 (6%) models. The Nokia E71 represented only 5%.

@Mohamed Salah:
Thank you for sharing those comments on how Blacberry is selling wildly outside of NA. You now have Rimm shorts shaking in their..........well, their shorts.

NOVEMBER 18, 2010 4:10 P.M.

To M' and Anon' wrote:

BB is not anywhere close to the iPhone GLOBALLY in sales or consciousness. Stuffing channels with razz matazz accounting magic is what Rim is doing or attempting. Hence the need for tossing metrics out and other specifics.

Name 5-10 international cities over a 12 month timeline... for the sake of an organic verifiable representation. Please. No hide and seek.

Craigslist lists 600+/- cities and countries globally that post BB and iPhone sales. Searches indicate. Aint happening for the BB. Try kijiji, ebay, etc. Show us something somewhere. Carrier chatrooms also show BB consciousness dwindling comparatively. If 80% of BB sales are now non enterprise and international, who's secretly buying and where? No evidence. Sorry. Begging to be shown otherwise. Apology will follow.

About Tech Trader Daily

Tech Trader Daily is a blog on technology investing written by Barron’s veteran Tiernan Ray. The blog provides news, analysis and original reporting on events important to investors in software, hardware, the Internet, telecommunications and related fields. Comments and tips can be sent to: techtraderdaily@barrons.com.